QS8.1 Bad Harmonics w/ Acoustic Piano settings

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Posted by Danny Johnson on November 23, 2001 at 11:40:14:


Here's what I sent to Alesis tech support. Several people have commented on the
terrible sound because of the harmonics. Read further regarding my dilemma.
Thanks for any input.

Right after I received my Alesis 8.1 in December of 2000, I called tech support
regarding very noticeable harmonics coming from the keyboard when any of the
acoustic piano sounds were selected and played through the headphones or an amp.
It is most noticeable with notes played around middle C. The harmonic is a third
above the fundamental (e.g. root = C, harmonic = C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C D, E ). The
service tech said that this is just the Bosendorfer sample, and that nothing could
be done other than adjusting the eq. I thought perhaps it was my amplification
or maybe my ear was over-sensitive. I began avoiding using the acoustic piano
sounds, and concentrated on using the EP and Organ sounds for most tunes with
the band.


The other night I had the piano out at a church and set the keyboard up for the
pianist and music minister. They have been considering buying an Alesis for
the church, so I thought this was an opportunity to let them get some experience
with the keyboard. It did not work out so well. The pianist began playing and
both the music minister and the pianist thought the house PA was feeding back.
It was not. They heard the harmonics coming from the keyboard.


Another person’s Alesis 8 does not display the same characteristics as my keyboard.
Hers sounds wonderful and normal. I have also noticed some of the Rhodes settings
exhibiting the same phenomena as the acoustic piano sounds. It is not as noticeable
since the tines are rich in harmonics, but they do sound unnatural in the middle C
area, and the third is definitely out there. This observation may be totally
unrelated to the acoustic piano problem.

Can I receive new firmware to try and see if that will fix the keyboard?
Do you have any other recommendations? It was not as much of an issue
when I was playing with the band, but the band is no more and I must rely on
acoustic piano sounds and do not desire to purchase or haul another keyboard.

OK, long I know. Any ideas?





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